Serbia declares day of mourning for victims of village killing

10th Apr 2013

BELGRADE, (Xinhua): The Serbian government on Tuesday declared Wednesday as a day of national mourning for the victims of a shooting rampage in a small village in central Serbia on Tuesday, local media reported

A man killed 13 people in the village of Velika Ivanca, 50 kilometers south of the capital, on Tuesday. Police said the man, Ljubisa Bogdanovic, shot himself in a suicide attempt after the killing and was in critical condition.

“The Serbian government wants to show its support to the families of those killed in this tragedy,” Radio Television Serbia (RTS) reported quoting an official statement.

Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic called the killing “the worst crime that has hit Serbia in recent years, perhaps decades, not counting crimes during the war”.

The 13 victims included six men, six women, and a two-year-old child.

Serbian Police Director Milorad Veljovic said Bogdanovic had a license for his weapon and no record of a psychological problem.

“We’ll have to see what is the motive for this terrible murder, we’re all just stunned,” he said.

“I don’t know what to say,” said an unnamed neighbour for Serbian television, “My brother and aunt were killed. About him (Bogdanovic), nobody has anything to say… Everyone would have opened the door for him.”

“He (Bogdanovic) was a good man, nobody can say he was a bad man,” said a second neighbour.

Bodganovic and his son reportedly both lost their jobs last year.

Serbian Minister without Portfolio Sulejman Ugljanin sent condolences to the families.

“Such a tragedy……causes shock and disbelief for all citizens, but it is hardest for family members of those killed. This is why our hearts and minds are with them,” said Ugljanin.

Over 120 people attended a landmark conference on the media reporting of Islam and Muslims. It was held jointly by The Muslim News and Society of Editors in London on September 15.

The Muslim News Awards for Excellence 2015 was held on March in London to acknowledge British Muslim and non-Muslim contributions to the society.

The Muslim News Awards for Excellence 2015 was held on March in London to acknowledge British Muslim and non-Muslim contributions to the society.

The Muslim News Awards for Excellence event is to acknowledge British Muslim and non-Muslim contributions to society. Over 850 people from diverse background, Muslim and non-Muslim, attended the gala dinner.